All-Gender Housing

All-gender housing allows students to reside with other
students regardless of sex, gender, gender identity, or gender
expression. This option is intended for students who wish to share
a room or suite with other students who identify differently than
themselves. Note that with the exception of specifically designated
all-female housing locations, buildings and floors within first year
communities are co-ed. This option is a designation at the bedroom
and suite level for first-year students.

Offering an all-gender housing option to all students, allows
increased choice in selecting roommates. It affords students maximum
responsibility for their own room assignment and is consistent with
the University’s commitment to learning through students’ active
decision-making and engagement in the learning environment.

An all-gender housing assignment is optional. Students who do
not opt in will experience a housing assignment directed by the birth
gender on file and will be assigned a same gendered roommate.

Students will indicate their desire for this option through the
AU Housing Portal’s online application. No response to this question
will default to a same-gender housing assignment. Students who
indicate yes to this option will be paired/grouped with other students
within their specific community designation for their room and
roommate(s) placement.

Frequently Asked Questions

First-time residents are assigned roommate pairing by the Housing office, while sophomores and upperclassmen participate in a self-selection of their housing space. During the application processes, all students will be presented with the same opt-in question on their housing application.

After opting into all-gender housing, first-year students will be placed within the pool of students who opted for all-gender housing. Sophomores and upperclassmen will only view “all-gender spaces” available during room selection.

Individual students who do not have a roommate group or partial groups of students can participate in this option and will be given room selection options that meet the all-gender preference (i.e., vacancies in existing all-gender suites or pre-designated all-gender rooms across campus).

Housing & Residence Life (HRL) recommends that students complete the entire housing application by themselves and share any housing information with their families should they desire. HRL communicates assignment information directly to students through their AU email account and will not disclose application information to anyone but the student.

HRL will need to maximize the use of all available spaces on campus. We will work with the current occupant(s) to identify solutions such as placement of a student who has confirmed interest in all-gender housing. Just as with any vacancy, residents cannot refuse a roommate placement if the student is interested in an all-gender housing option. If no interested student can be identified to fill the vacancy, HRL may re-designate the room as gender specific. This may involve an administrative reassignment of some or all students to other spaces within the system.

No, as long as the residents of the entire living unit (a bedroom for traditional halls or the entire suite/apartment for other housing styles) are in agreement to participate. It is important to note that not all residence halls have all-gender common area restrooms or private bathrooms.

No additional forms or agreements are required. Residents of those units will participate in the same Roommate Living Agreement process facilitated by their Resident Assistant, as would any other living unit.